Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-28

shall accompany him to Taris in few days
Soon after this he received a letter from
Lucien. Dear FRIEND" it ran, 81 never
hoped to sec you again l am at hue de
Rome, but too weak yet to venture out. Come,
want TO see you more than can say. Your
more than brother, LUCIEN."
To go to Lucien was to see Julia again, to
place himself between her and that poor man,
that man TO whom he was bound by the ties
of common danger and comradeship, whom
he loved with love passing that of women,
and who was now chained down forever to
his chair. What should he dos How escaped
After a long struggle with himself he de-
ci.led 10 90. Il will see Julia" said he, and
have an explanation. She will understand
that there must be nothing more between us
not even a smile, "a look, Il clasp OF the hand.
Wrong as we Were before, now it would be a
million fold more horrible
So he went to see Lucien. Noirville was in
his room. and it wls Julia who came to meet
him She sprung forward, her hands ex-
tended Almost a year had passed since she
had seen him. Her beauty was even greater,
more dazzling than before, prouder and more
imperious. But she loved Roger, and she
grew soft and womanly in his presence.
Roger bowed i'll respectful silence, not even
offering his hand.
Roger! Roserf' she said. Allow much
have thought OF you. How much have
suffered"
She checked herself suddenly at the express
sion OF unutteraIe horror depicted on his
face Then he spoke:
Julia we must bury the past, and may God
pardon Us am the friend, the brother of
Lucien. Do You understand"
And while She shrunk back suppressing hel
hearts cry for its breaking agony, he went II
to Lucien. He was lying on IL lounge, pale
thin. uurecogniz.,be and almost without
breath. His beard had grown. Two wooden
legs had been adapted h. his manned limbs
When he saw Roger his face lighted up, and
his eyes filled with tears, and the men EN-
bfacel with full hearts.
"In what y STATE you find me, Roger" sale
| Lucen, showing his wooden legs. "Dr
ChantpeauX told me all. and without you
should not be here today, but after all what
poor service 1t was" He sighed heavily
then said: But am very mgrateful If
had died what would have become Of Julit
and my children! Alive, even if | canno
| plead longer, can at least have an office fol
consultation. ard thus assure them then
breadn
When Roger, seeing how weak be WAS
wished 10 retire, lIucirn opposed aud babe ,
servant c;.ll his wife. aud she came.
Here is Roger Laroque, whom we have me
as friends before the war | saved his life
he saved mine. l love him like brother
Our families from henceforth, hope, will b
but one" julia bowel without answering
| When Roger left she accompanied him, an,
at the moment lie Wa; about to open the QUITE
door she seized his arm with an iron grasp,
/ $50" she SAID. "you have not one word 70
me!"
/ He pointed silently toward the room wher
! Lucien hay, then said:
| +in the nune of pity, If not love for him
hush"
/ Eut Julia seemed insane Her anger grew
! hryond bounds.
at is finished between us, then; all ended
| forcver!'
ROGER, scarcely able 10 artirulate. whis
! peE'ed hoarsaly:
"If knew some means of effacing, even a
| tie most cruel sacrifice, the awful remem
brance of what exists between us l woult
take it at the cost of my life!"
Roger Roger!"
"But," he continued, with profound sad
ness. "your duty is traced clearly, Julia
| Inc,cn, INITIATED, isolat-l, needs all You
| deviation, and 81 your faut viii have been, il
| tiuls, oSTlated For m, DO not know how
t. ecsi'Ialc mine, and must bear it, weigh
| MY whol, lie through